This article will go above beyond the one I made a while ago on my old character
It will cover not only Windows, but Linux and Mac, though I’m sure the Linux users already know about a lot of this stuff.
If you have a request for something to be on this list type:
&&Requestionaire
In your post and I will do what I can to add it
New Features and Additions
Summary
1/8/2018 Added POV-Ray and Midnight Commander. Various spelling errors were fixed. New layouts were added. Deprecated polls. Updated Images.
Bug Not all poll options will be displayed due to a limitation in the forum’s handling/management of polls
Section 1: Vector and Pixel Graphics
The first set will be alternatives to Adobe’s Photoshop and MSPaint
Krita
Summary
Krita is open source software and a cross platform alternative to Adobe’s Photoshop. It has free versions for Linux, Mac, and non-S versions of Windows 10 (there is a paid version for Windows 10 S). It is similar to Photoshop in many ways but one of the key differences is how layer masks are handled, settling for transparency masks rather than adobe layer masking. It is combo software, having the ability to use pixel and vector graphics to a degree, as well as 2D animation.
It’s features include:
- Brush Stabilizers
- Pop-up Palette
- Brush Engines
- Wrap-around
- PSD support
- HDR support
- And others
The full list of features can be found here.
Gimp
Summary
Gimp is a cross platform, free, and open source editor. It is an alternative to the deprecated MSPaint and a light alternative to Photoshop.
It’s key features include:
- Full Range of Painting Tools
- Tile Based Memory Management
- Sub-pixel Sampling
- Customizable via Plug-ins
- And others
The full list of features can be found here.
The second set will handle alternatives to Adobe Illustrator and InDesign.
Inkscape
Summary
Inkscape is an open source, free, cross platform vector graphics tool. It makes for a great alternative to Adobe Illustrator.
It’s key features include:
- Object Creation
- Object Manipulation
- Fill and Stroke
- Operations on Paths
- Text Support
- Rendering
With all the fine details of each category being located here.
Scribus
Summary
Scribus is an open source, cross platform, vector graphics tool designed for publishing. It works like InDesign in the sense that it is meant to layout your material in a professional way, mostly for business.
It’s main features include:
- CMYK, SPot Color, and ICC Color Management
- PDF Creation
- Vector Drawing Tool
- Emulation of Color Blindness
- Easy File Recovery
The full list is here.
Extra: Swatch Booker
http://www.selapa.net/swatchbooker/
Summary
A color management tool for your graphic needs. It supports Windows and Linux but has no native utility for Mac. Management of gradients is expected to arrive in 0.8. This is an alternative to the Adobe Color Wheel.
- Krita
- Gimp
- Inkscape
- Scribus
- Swatch Booker
Section 2: Modeling and Animation
This set covers 2D Animation
Synfig Studio
Summary
Synfig is free, open source software designed for 2D animation. It works in tandem with some of the other software listed above to deliver high quality images and ease of animation. Unlike Adobe Animate (formerly Adobe Flash), it does not compromise visuals to make any animation. It however does not support Flash Animations.
It’s key features include:
- Layers
- Bones
- Spatial Resolution Independence
- Temporal Resolution Independence
- HDRI
- Many more
The full list can be found here.
Anime Effects
Summary
A cross platform and open source animation. It lacks static builds for Linux so you will need to compile them yourself. For Windows and Mac users there should be normal packages that you can just simply run. It is similar to synfig but visually slimmer, as it does not shove all of its features in your face at once.
The features included are:
- Object Tree
- Time Line
- Bone Tools
- Mesh Creating Tool
- A few more
There is a list here but it may be incomplete.
Pencil2D Animation
Summary
A simple cross platform animation. It uses pencil drawings as its basis of animation (not real drawings though). It is like drawing multiple pictures on a notepad and flipping the pages.
Features:
- Minimal Design
- Raster & Vector Graphics
- Timeline
OpenToonz
Summary
OpenToonz is an open source studio that works on Windows and Mac, though the Linux community has been trying to port it over for a while. It is high grade and was based off of the old Toonz.
Features include:
- I don’t know Japanese so I couldn’t read the feature list…
- It has other applications that work with it to amplify effects or even change styles.
Extra: SWFTOOLS
http://swftools.org/about.html
Summary
A Flash animation utility, or rather, a set of many tools that work together to form a utility. This is in the extra section as Flash will be depracated by 2020 as Adobe has planned to shut it down.
This set is about modeling
Blender
Summary
Blender is by far the best 3D software has access to and it puts many others to shame. It is cross platform, free, and open source. It is more than just a modeling tools as it has support and capability for animation, sculpting, rendering, game development, and more.
It’s wide range of features include:
- Real-time Viewpoint Preview
- CPU & GPU Rendering
- PBR SHaders & HDR Lighting
- VR Rendering Support
- Full N-Gon support
- And a ton more, like holy S**t
The full list is easily found on the front page.
POV-Ray
Summary
POV-Ray is an open source and cross platform rendering tool. Though it has no modeling software baked into it, it can supplement your work with other tools. There are a few that have open support for it such as Blender. What makes this different is in the fact that it is rendered using text, yes, text. So instead of tweaking an object in 3D having guess the coordinates of effects, you can type out exactly what you want them to do and where. Judging by the looks of it, it is mainly used in the rendering of static scenes, but you can make animations with it as well once you get a grasp on how to use it.
It has a wide array of features that is best explored on your own but here’s a small list:
- Library of Ready Made Scenes and Objects
- Several Kinds of Light Sources
- Atmospheric Effects
- Radiosity
- Reflections
- A lot more
The official documentation can be found here.
Deprecated Poll
- Synfig Studio
- Anime Effects
- Pencil2D Animation
- OpenToonz
- SWFTOOLS
- Blender
Section 3: Media
VLC
Summary
Vlc is an opensource media that works on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and iOS. It has two Windows versions with one being apart of the MS store, it is stripped down quite a bit. This media player has a lot of functionality to it and is one of the few media players to go to 150% volume.
Other features include:
- Network Streaming
- Codec Convertion
- Streaming to Others
- Various Effetc and Filters
- Track Synchronization
- Play Optical Media
- Various Minor Features
Kodi
Summary
Kodi is a media center that can stream from many services via plugins, including TV shows if you know how to set it up. It can play any type of media with a codec (not old school games). It runs on Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and the Raspberry Pi.
It’s features include:
- A wide variety of ways to play your media
- A semi-Desktop window
- Plug-ins
- A clock and access to system
- Library Tools
It’s features are only limited by what you have available to you.
Stremio
Summary
One of the newer entries into the Linux roundup, it hit the ground running. This app is Kodi’s competition and it works on Windows, Mac, and Linux. It may not have full access to every service yet but it will get there.
It’s features are:
- Content Discovery
- Library
- Built in Calender to Remind You to Watch Something
- Cast to Devices
- Add-ons
The list is found here.
Clementine
https://www.clementine-player.org/
Summary
Clementine is a music player focused on speed and ease. It works on Windows, Mac, and Linux with an android remote version. It is an open source project inspired by Amarok.
It’s features are wide and a tad more advanced, including:
- Ability to Control Clementine Remotely via Android
- Library
- Listen to Internet Radio
- Dynamic Playlists
- Visualisations
- Transcoding
- And more
The rest can be found here.
Deprecated Poll
- VLC
- Kodi
- Stremio
- Clementine
Section 4: Content Creation
This set will focus on video.
Openshot
Summary
OPenshot is, as it’s name implies, an open source video editor. Like most of the “Hardcore Open Source” items, it works in tandem with other Linux software to make effects that tend to be impossible on normal software. It is available for the 3 main types of OSes.
A few of its features are:
- Curve based keyframe animation
- Drag and Drop Support
- Unlimited Tracks/Layers
- Transformation
- Transitions
- 3D Titles (If Blender Is Installed)
- Scaled Vector Graphic Effects (If Inkscape Is Installed
- A lot more
The full list can be found here.
Shotcut
Summary
Shotcut is an opensource video editor, available on the 3 major platforms. It fits the more traditional video editor format, lacking a lot of the features that Openshot has but also having a lot more than Openshot in relation to Video processing. Openshot lacks Hardware acceleration for the most part but this application is in the process of supporting it, it is currently an experimental option.
It’s array of features include:
- Wide Format Support
- Plentiful Audio Features
- Video Effects
- Many Editing Tools/Features
- External Monitor/Multi-Monitor support
- Hardware Support
The full list and in depth detail of the features are here.
DaVinci Resolve
Summary
Resolve is very different from all the editors mentioned previously. This is just a free version of the software, there is a paid one and it is not open source. However, it has been tried and proven to excel. It is used in Hollywood movie production with a vast array of hardware support and features. It is of course cross platform but by no means is it for the average user. It took me an hour to figure out how to launch it and I realized too late that I didn’t install it right. It has a hard time working on Intel and AMD Graphics. It’s easier and less buggy if you use CUDA, if you turn it off, even your Nvidia GPU will have issues. This is as high end as it can get.
Its features include the following but they may not be included in the free version:
- Creative Editing
- Advanced Trimming
- Multicam Editing
- Speed Effects
- Timeline Curve Editor
- Transitions and Effects
- “Finishing”
The rest is here, there’s quite a lot.
Extra: Cinelarra
Summary
Another professional editor, however, this one is only available for Linux, specifically Ubuntu, but the source code is available for you to try it on other Distros.
[No straightforward feature listing]
Deprecated Poll
- Openshot
- Shotcut
- DaVinci Resolve
- Cinelarra
This set will focus on audio.
Audacity
Summary
This is an audio editor that is popular amongst YouTubers for its simplicity and capability. I myself have used it and it’s very nice. It is open source and available on the 3 major platforms.
It’s features are numerous as singles but little in compact lists:
- Sound effects (A lot)
- Trimming
- Multi Track
- Equilization
- Plug-in Support
- Recording
LMMS
Summary
LMMS is an open source audio/music creator. It is available on the 3 major platforms and has a wide array of tools available to it. It is a relatively simple to use tool.
It’s features include:
- Midi Support
- Synthesizers
- Sound Samples
- Plug-ins
- Automation
- More
The rest can be found on the front page of the website.
Ardour
Summary
Ardour is similar to LMMS but has support for a wider variety of things. Ardour lacks static builds that are free for Windows, so in order to use it for free you will have to compile the source yourself. This can be a very difficult task. It is available on the 3 major platforms.
Features include:
- Hardware Recording
- Unlimited multi Channel Tracks
- Editing
- Mixing
- Routing
- A Lot More
The rest can be found here.
Deprecated Poll
- Audacity
- LMMS
- Ardour
Section 4: Miscellanious
This section will be an array of misc tools in no predetermined order or reason.
RetroArch
Summary
RetroArch is an open source and cross platform. It can work on Mac, Linux, Windows, Android, Browsers, PS3 (Before “Other OS” was removed), Blackberry, PSP, PSVita, XBox, Xbox 360, Gamecube, Wii, WiiU, 3DS, The rest are in this list.
Its key features are:
- Frontend Support for Nearly Every Emulator
- Multiple Cores to Swap Between Emulators
- XMB Menu
- Available as an OS
- Unknown
To find out more read the documentation on the version for the device you plan to run it on.
UTAU
Summary
Utau is essentially a voice synthesizer program. It allows you to sing songs using a premade voice or your own voice. It is currently only available on Windows and not in English, though there are english patches and versions marked “e” that have enough english in them to be usable.
Features include:
- Many Plug-ins for Advanced Features
- Includes a Basic Test Voice
- Basic Synthesis
It is highly recommended you seek a 3rd party voice such as Kasane Teto, or your preferred Vocalist
Conky
Summary
Conky is a system monitoring tool for Linux that integrates into the background/theme of your choice. It is easily customizable and creatable while also being light.
[Features depend on user choice]
Ubuntu 16.04+
sudo apt -y install conky-all
sudo add-apt-repository -y ppa:teejee2008/ppa
sudo apt update
sudo apt -y install conky-manager
BlueStacks
Summary
BlueStacks allows you to run Android apps on your laptop or desktop computer. If you want to play Clash of Clans and your phone is dead then this will work, if you want to play Pokemon GO from the safety of your home then you might be able to, it’s a real pain to get it working and very sketchy.
Midnight Commander
https://midnight-commander.org/
Summary
Midnight Commander is an open source File Manger for Linux based operating systems. However, it is not solely limited to them as there are unofficial ports to Mac and Windows. It uses a text interface like in the old DOS days for Windows, or just like yesterday for those that love Terminal. It is light on resources given its design and since it runs in a Terminal windows, it can be used when ssh-ing into a remote desktop.
Features include:
- Text Line Interface
- Visible Property Display
- File System Display
- Range of Other Systems I don’t Much About
The documentation page can be found here.
Deprecated Poll
- RetroArch
- UTAU
- Conky
- BlueStacks
Section 5: Developer
This is the final section, it covers developer tools for the enthusiast.
Windows Subsystem for Linux
Summary
It is not limited to Ubuntu, there is also OpenSUSE and I hear there is Fedora but have yet to see available in the store for Home users. This lets you run Linux apps on your Windows 10 Install, but they are command line tools only since you need an Xserver to display the graphics… speaking of which…
Xming
Summary
Xming is an X server for Windows 10 that allows you to use GUI LInux apps.
FFMPEG
https://ffmpeg.org/download.html
Summary
FFMPEG is a tool that is used in many of the apps listed previously, this software is necessary to get the full range the apps offer and all the codecs.
Android Studio
Summary
Android Studio is an app that lets you develop and run apps on your non-Android devices. It is an excellent developer tool as it allows for hardware emulation and other emulation features like Graphics rendering.
Wine
Summary
Wine is a compatibility layer that allow Unix like Operating systems to run Windows programs at the cost of performance. With the release of WSL on Windows 10, you can now run any windows app from 1995 up to Windows 10 on Windows 10, you just put yourself at a high security risk if you install wine on Windows. Wine can not be installed on Windows 10 any other way.
Deprecated Poll
- WSL
- XMing
- FFMPEG
- Android Studio
- Wine
